Machine for detecting defects in motion-picture films.



Patented Oct. 28, 1913 R. NICOLE-T. MACHINE FOR DETECTING DEFECTS IN MOTION PICTURE FILMS. APPLICATION FILED OGT.31, 1912.

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enemas roe nnrno'rnm DEFECTS IN MOTION-PICTURE FILMS.

Specification ot lefliefls Patent.

Patented Oct. 28, 1913'.

Application me October 31, 1912. Serial m. 728,933.

To all whom it may concern H Be it known that I, Room NICOLET, a ci'tizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Machine for Detect- .ing Defects in Motion-Picture Films, of which the following is a specification,-

My invention relates to apparatus for detrailing detects in motion picture films. As

well known, such films are commonly provided with rows of perforations, usually located at the two edges of the film strip It sometimes happens that the edge of the film is torn away opposite one or more of said holes, or that the portions of the film between two or more consecutive holes are torn away. The long film strips now frequently used comprise two or more lengths of filmv ioined higether, and it occasionally hapicns that such e. joint or seam is too thin to through the projecting machine in which the film is to be used; The apparatus herein illustrated and described is adapted to detect such defects in motion picture films. Obviously, the apparatus is equally adaptable for detecting similar defects in any other strips of flexible material designed, to be passed through a -inachine, and in stating that my machine is a mach ne for detecting defects in motion picture ans, 1 do not intend thereby to limit the v of the machine to detecting defects in soon film's alone.

My invention consists in a structure comprising one or more movably mounted detector fingers located in a path through which the film Or other strip to be inspected may be passed, trgether with means for moving such a film or other strip past such detecting means, and means, operated by the detecting finger or fingers, for indicating such operation of the detector finger or fin rs as is occasioned by the passage of a do ect past such finger or fingers.

The object of my invention is to provide simple, automatic mechanism for detecting defects in motion picture films and other flexible strips I will now roceed to describe my invention with re erence to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the nove features 111 claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a side view of one form of apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a top view thereof. Fig. 3 shows a fra entary top view, on a lar or scale, a portion of the top plate of the film guide having beenbroken away. Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary longitudinal elevation and partial section of the portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 1 designates a suitable support, upon which are mounted two plates, 2 and 3, between which a film strip 4 is to be passed the said plates 2 and 3 forming'a guide or the film strip and a support for the detector fingers hereinafter mentioned. H

5 designates a suitable feed roll, preferably provided with a covering 6 of rubber or other elastic or yielding material, said roll 5 being provided with a crank 7 by which it may be rotated; and 8 designates a presser roll, adapted for slight vertical movement in guides 9, this roll 8 serving to rose the film strip 4 upon the feedroll 5 and thereb to insure feedin of the film when said r01 5 is revolved. duitable guide rolls 10 and 11 guide and support the film strip on its passage to the film guide formed by plates 2 and 3. At the sides of the plate 2, I pivot two detector fingers 12 and 13 the ends of these detector fingers being preicrably of V- shapc Or some equivalent contour, as shown. These detector fingers 12 and 13 are pressed against the edge 0 the film strip 4, by means 0 suitable springs 14. The detector fingers 12 and 13 have the form of bell cranks, as shown, and at their outer ends carry hammers 15 adapted to strike bells 16 in case said, detector fingers encounter brealts in the edges of the film strip. v

In the upper guide plate 3 are slots 17 in which are located other detectorfingers I18 and 19, these detector fingers 18 and 19 being pivoted to the top guide plate 3, and being located over the rows of perforations 20 of the film strip. These two vertical detector fingers, 18 and 19, likewise have the form of hell crank levers, and at their lower ends are provided with V-shaped projections or projections of other suitable contour, whereby said detector fingers are adapted to enter holes of the film of greater length than the individual perforations of the film. Springs 21 press these detector fingers 18 and 19 against the film. At their upper ends the detector fingers 18 and 19 are provided with hammers 22 adapted to strike bells 23, these bells being preferably of somewhat different form or size than the bells 16, so that the two bells 16 and the two bells 23 have distinctive tones. It is convenient to provide recesses 24, Fig. 4, in the bottom guide plate 2, directly beneath the actuating portions of the detector fingers 18 and 19.

The operation of the machine is as follows: Supposing a film strip to be mounted in' the machine, and the feed roll 5 to be retated, in case there be a defect in one edge of the film, as indicated at 25, Fig. 3, the corresponding horizontal detector finger 12 or 13, will enter such defect, as the film passes the detector finger, causing the hammer 15 of that detector finger to strike its corresponding bell 16. In case the material of the film intervening between two or more of the consecutive holes 20 cf the film, has been torn away, as indicated at 2.6, Fig. 3, the corresponding vertical detector finger, 18 or 19, will enter such defect, as that defect passes underneath such detector finger, such detector finger then striking its corresponding bell, 23. In case the fihn have a bad joint or seam, such as above referred to, when such bad joint or scam passes underneath the two vertical detector fingers, 1S and 19, both of said fingers will strike their bells. It will be obvious that the detector fingers may operate various other forms of devices for indicating visually or audibly the existence of defects in the strip passing the detect r fingers.

hat I claim isz- 1. An apparatus for detecting defects in a. motion picture or similar film provided With one or more rows of perforations, comprising means for moving said film to be inspected,'detecting means arranged to engage said film yieldably along the line of the perforations thereof, the portion of said de tecting means which normally engages said film being shaped and proportioned so as not to enter a normal perforation of the film but to enter an abnormally large perforation, and ind cating means arranged to be operated by the entry of such detecting means into the said abnormally large perfo ration.

o motion picture or similar film provided with two rows of perforations, one near each edge, comprising means for moving said film to be inspected, detecting means arranged to eng ige said film yieldably near each edge along the lines of the rows of perforations, the portion of said detecting means which normally engages said film being shaped so as not to enter a normal perforation of the film but to enter an abnor- An apparatus for detecting defects in :1.

mally large perforation, and indicating means arranged to be operated by the entry of said detecting means into the said abnormally large perforation.

3. An apparatus for detecting defects in amotion picture or similar film comprising means for moving the film to be inspected, and detecting means arranged to engage said film yieldab'ly, said detecting means comprising a movably mounted detector finger, spring-actuated toward the film to be inspected, and indicating means positioned with respect to said detector finger to be out of engagement with said detector finger when the latter is resting normally on the film, but to be engaged by said detector finger when the latter moves abruptly toward the film following abrupt actuation of such finger due to a defect in the film.

4. An apparatus for detecting defects in a motion picture or similar film comprising means for moving the film to be inspected, and detecting means arranged to engage said film yieldably, said detecting means comprising movably mounted detector fingers, arranged to engage the edges of said film, yieldably, and spring-actuated toward the film, and indicating means positioned with respect to said detector fingers to be out of engagement with said detector fingers when the latter are resting normally on the film, but to be engaged by said detector fingers when the latter move abruptly toward the film following abrupt actuation of such fingers due to a defect in the film.

5. An apparatus for detecting defects in a motion picture or similar film provided with one or more rows of perforations, comprising means for moving said film t be inspected, detecting means arranged engage said film yieldably along the line f the perforations thereof, said detecting means comprising one or more pivotally mounted detector fingers, the portion of said fingers which normally engages said film being shaped and proportioned so as not to enter a normakperforation of the film but to enter an abnormally large perforation and indicating means arranged to be operated by the entry of said detecting means into the said abnormally large perforation.

(3. An apparatus for detecting defects in motion picture or similar films comprising means for moving said film to be inspected, and detecting means comprising one or more pivotally mounted and springpressed bell crank detecting fingers. adapted to ride o er said Strip and to enter defects in the. same as they pass the detector finger or lingers.

7. An apparatus for detecting defects in a motion picture or similar film, compris ing means for moving said film to be inspected, and one or more detector fingers comprising bell crank levers pivotally muunueu and springressed to engage said In testimony whereof I have signed'this film yieldably said ell crank lever comspecification in the presence of two subprising a rigid arm adapted to en age said scribing Witnesses.

film and a hammer carried by he other ROGER NICOLET. arm, and indicating means arranged to be Witnesses: i actuated by said hammer upon the act-ne- EDWARD FERRAND,

tion of said detector finger. WARREN G. VA Dorm. 

